Work control and scheduling device



Sept. 22, 1959 Filed Jan. 16, 1958 W. A. STEWARD WORK CONTROL AND SCHEDULING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet l .4 MEMBER F THE FIRM INVENTOR.

Will/am ,4. Sfeward EC/(HOFF 4!! SLICK P 1959 w. A. STEWARD 2,904,915

WORK CONTROL AND SCHEDULING DEVICE Filed Jan. 16, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 o J 8% J /6-* 3Z--e M/ A3 a 32 A E f 3 o a J .Ilzlg w INVENTOR.

William A Sfawmrd EL'KHOFF 4' SLICK ATTO EYS Sept. 22, 1959 w. A. STEWARD WORK CONTROL AND SCHEDULING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 16, 1958 INVENTOR. Willmm A. Sfewara' EC/(HOFF 71.

MEMBER SLICK w OF 'rus FIRM rill United States Patent Qfice WORK CONTROL AND SCHEDULING DEVICE William A. Steward, Mill Valley, Calif.

Application January 16, 1958, Serial No. 709,343 1 Claim. (Cl. 40-96) This invention relates to a work control and scheduling device which can be utilized for various purposes as for the control of production of various items, recording vacation schedules, appointments, and the like.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a simple and improved work control device which can be used for various purposes, and this on a continuous basis. The invention includes other objects and features of advantage, some of which, together with the foregoing, will appear hereinafter wherein the preferred form of the device is disclosed.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part hereof, Figure 1 is a front view of the device as it appears in use.

Figure 2 is an end view of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a. plan view of the device.

Figuge 4 is a front view with portions of the work control mechanism omitted to illustrate some of the details of assembly.

Figure 5 is a section taken along the line 5-5 in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a line taken along the line 6-6 in Figure 4 but with the device assembled.

Figure 7 is a section along the line 7-7 in Figure 5.

In the preferred form of the device, a frame, generally indicated at 6, is provided. This is made up of a rectangular back 7, having channels 8, 9 and 11 mounted respectively along one side, the top and the bottom. Vertical supports 12., 13, 14 and 16 extend between the top and bottom channels 9 and 1-1 to stiffen the frame and provide a support for various indicia and work surfaces, as will be presently described. All the elements so far mentioned are suitably joined together as by spot welding or by riveting.

Mounted in the frame for rotation in suitable bearings 17 are spaced rollers 18 and 19. Roller 18 is provided between the vertical members 12 and 13, being mounted in the bearings 17 provided in ears 21 mounted on the support 12. Roller 19 is similarly mounted at the right-hand end of the frame on support 16.

An index sheet 26 is mounted upon the edge of the frame as provided by the flange on the top, side and bottom members 7, 8 and 9, and upon the vertical support 12, which extends from adjacent roller 19 to fit beneath index sheet 26 (Figure 5). Mounted upon the supports 13, 14 and 16 is an indicia sheet 27 (see Figure 5). Mounted between the rollers is a flexible, movable continuous band or endless belt 28 providing a writing surface. The band is transparent to expose the indicia sheet 27. The margins of the writing surface and the edges of the index 26 and indicia 27 are covered by suitable molding strips 31, held in place by screws 32.

In use, various items are entered on the index card 26, which has a surface such that it can be written upon with a grease pencil. Thus, referring particularly to Figure 1, it will be noted that various items have been set up such as two advertisements to be produced by an agency; then follow certain records on shop production and the stations to be occupied by a cutter and welder; reservations for the use of units 1 and 2 as against the 2,804,915 Patented Sept. 22, 1959 individuals to use such reservations are shown for various individuals as are their respective vacation schedules; then follow various appointments for an individual named Jones and, finally schedules for advertisements in various magazines. The entries on these items are written on the transparent flexible work surface; they appear in order as they remain at rest in position over the lower indicia sheet which is merely marked oif in a plurality of squares of a desired size. The transparent writing surface is moved from day to day as desired, the current items being immediately adjacent the edge of the index sheet. The working days in the month are written in at the top of each column, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays being omitted for emphasis of the other days. Since items can be erased from the transparent work surface and new ones added from time to time, the device lends itself readily to widespread application and is readily adaptable to many uses. The transparent sheet is made of a suitable plastic which will accept a temporary grease pencil marking so that entries can be made and removed as desired without affecting the sheet.

For ease in transporting the device, a retractable handle 36 is mounted on the top channel and a side brace 37 (Figure 2) is mounted between the top and bottom channels to support the device in position for use.

The endless belt 28 need not be transparent and the various legends and lines can be printed directly upon it. In this case, the index sheet 26 acts as a support for the band 28. If a permanent record is desired, this can be provided by fastening, temporarily, an overlay sheet to the belt 28 and writing upon this with pen or pencil. When the overlay is exhausted, it is removed and stored as a permanent record.

I claim:

A work control device comprising: a rectangular open frame, a ruled, fiat, hard-surfaced support member fixedly secured in said frame and extending over a major portion of the rectangular surface circumscribed by said rectangular frame; a fiat index fixed along one edge of said frame adjacent said supporting member, forming a narrow slot between the support member and the index member, said index extending forward of said support member, a first roller rotatably mounted in said frame beneath said index extending parallel to one edge of said support member adjacent said narrow slot, a second roller rotatably mounted in said frame parallel to said first roller adjacent the opposite end of said hard-surfaced support member and disposed beyond said support member whereby the edge of the roller is exposed; a continuous flexible transparent writing surface covering substantially the entirety of said ruled, flat, hard-surfaced support member and held at either end by said rollers whereby to provide a continuous transparent writing surface for movement over said support member and to provide a scheduling chart, said exposed roller serving as a means whereby the flexible writing surface can be moved by movement of a hand thereover.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

